Why Balance Matters
We all keep hearing about the importance of moving our bodies. It get's talked about so much that overload can put us in shutdown mode. Everyone has an opinion about it, or a claim to solve all of your movement issues. The truth is, we have to move and we have to find a type of movement that feels comfortable to us. If it doesn't feel good, we aren't going to do it.
The less we move the more unstable the body becomes. The more unstable the body becomes, the more unstable the mind can become. Catch my drift....
So, how do we tackle this situation? We tackle it with simplicity, consistency, and love.
Balance matters because it helps keep us upright and stable on our feet. Without it, we are at risk of toppling over.
Balance can be improved with basic strength training, Yoga, Walking, dancing and a slew of other activities. Movement helps balance. There's no question about that. When we don't move, everything becomes tight and weak. When things are tight and weak we can't get a full range of motion in that area. When we can't get a full range of motion it becomes tricky to balance bodies. It's a big chain reaction. One thing effects the next and so on...
Here's some simple things you can do daily and at home:
Hold on to a back of a chair and practice posture. Stand tall and straight without locking any joints. Feet are hip width apart and you are looking straight ahead. Relax your shoulders. Feel connected to the ground. Toes pointed forward. Breathe! Now, slowly rock onto your toes and then onto your heels. Very gently! Feel the strength in your body as you stand tall. In Yoga, we call this mountain pose. Feel strong and stable like a mountain.
Hold on to a back of a chair. In mountain pose, shift your weight from side to side. Keep both legs on the ground to start. Just feel the weight shift from right to left and back. Do this at least 20 times. Then if you are feeling ready, extend one leg slightly out to the side, then the other. Alternate legs.
Next, let's take this one step further. Take one foot off the ground, bend the knee and bring the heel toward your buttocks. Hold for at least 30 seconds and build up to a minute. Start with both hands on the back of the chair and practice taking one hand off. Work yourself up to no hands.
Next, go back to mountain pose and realign your body. Then hold onto the back of the chair. Then close your eyes and feel balanced in the pose. Then work on taking one hand off the chair and then both, while keeping your eyes closed.
Now, stand behind the chair and turn your body to one side. So one hip points to the chair and one hand is on the chair. Place one foot in front of the other, like a heel toe position. Hold for 30 seconds. Then move the foot that is in front, behind the other foot and hold for 30 seconds. Do this 3 times. Then, turn to the other side and repeat. Safety is key! Make sure you have a clean and clutter free space to do this. There should be nothing in the way of where you are placing your feet. The last thing we want to do it trip over something, while we are trying to improve our bodies. It also may help to wear a good supportive shoe. Socks and slippers can be slippery so take that into consideration. HAPPY BALANCING!!
